Asamankese, Sept 09, GNA - Davidson Kwabena Darko, a cocoa Purchasing Clerk of the Olam Ghana Limited who was allegedly given 32,625,000 cedis by his employers to purchase 58 bags of cocoa beans but bought only 39 bags, has been granted a 20-million-cedi bail with a surety by the Asamankese Circuit Court.

He pleaded not guilty to stealing 10,279,000 million cedis being the cost of the outstanding 19 bags of cocoa he failed to account for. Darko is to re-appear before the court on October 12.

Detective Police Chief Inspector Osei Owusu told the court that the District Marketing Officer of Olam Ghana Limited at Suhum advanced Darko 32,625,000 cedis to buy 58 bags of dried cocoa beans at the beginning of the 2004/2005 main cocoa season.

At the end of the season, records showed that Darko was able to purchase 39 bags leaving a balance of 19 bags valued at 10,279,000 cedis. In February when management asked Darko to refund the remaining amount, he could not do so but went into hiding until he was traced and arrested by police on June 10.